ENGLAND: THE OTHER WITHIN

PRM Teaching Part 3

Alison Petch,
Researcher 'The Other Within' project

References to teaching in the Annual Reports

The extracts given below are taken straight from the published Annual Reports of the Museum which have been published annually between 1893 and this year and are all the references to teaching in the Museum's Annual Reports

Section 1 - Annual Reports 1893 to 1941-2
Section 2 - Annual Reports 1942-3 to 1954-5
Section 3 - Annual Reports 1955-6 to 1963-4
Section 4 - Annual Reports 1964-5 to 1982-3
Section 5 - Annual Reports 1983-4 to 1992-3
Section 6 - Annual Reports 1993-4 to 2005-6

Please note that these edited extracts from the Annual Reports omit almost all mention to teaching outside of the mainstream Diploma / Masters teaching in the Pitt Rivers Museum. In addition to the activities recorded here staff supervised research students, lectured at other institutions, and lectured to visiting groups and schoolchildren.

1955-6 Dr. Audrey Butt, appointed as University Demonstrator and Lecturer in the place of Mr. W.C. Brice, who left us for Manchester, has been with us for a year, and has been a successful choice in every way, both in teaching and research, and in Museum work. ... [Penniman] lectured in all three terms on Origins of Civilization, took some part in practical teaching, including a demonstration for candidates for the Diploma of the Museums Association, and continued to serve as Diploma Secretary for Anthropology, Interviewer of Research Students, and Secretary to Heads of Science Departments. ... [Blackwood] lectured twice a week throughout the year, and gave a long practical class once weekly for students of the Diploma in Anthropology, and two shorter practical classes twice weekly to students working for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography. In the former she was assisted by Mr. Bradford and Dr. Butt, and in the latter by Dr. Butt. In both Michaelmas and Hilary Terms, her general title was Lands and Peoples, the first term being devoted to Hunters and Herders and the second to Cultivators. These lectures were given both to Diploma and to Geography students. During Trinity Term, she gave The Higher Civilizations of Pre-Conquest America to Diploma students once each week. She also gave three lectures followed by museum demonstrations On Some Arts and Industries of British Africa for Overseas Cadets going to Africa, and three lectures and demonstrations on Ethnology of the Western Pacific for Cadets bound for that area. Outside the regular courses, she gave a demonstration on Ethnological Techniques relevant to Archaeology to members of the Museums Association Diploma course ... Among other activities may be mentioned the acting as Moderator for the Preliminary Examination in Geography in Hilary Term I956 ... Mr. Bradford lectured once weekly in all three terms, his Michaelmas lectures being on Nomad Empires of Asia, the Hilary on The First Farmers in Europe, and the Trinity lectures on Tribal Life in Britain in the First Millenium B.C. He also assisted in the weekly practical classes in Ethnology, and gave a weekly practical class in Archaeology. During the three terms, he tutored twenty-six Geography pupils in Ethnology, and one pupil in archaeology. This year he also served as Chairman of Examiners for the Diploma in Anthropology. ... Dr. Audrey Butt in her first year here gave a lecture course on Amerindian Tribes of the Guianas, South America, and another on The Material Culture of the Special Area (East Africa), both for students of the Diploma in Anthropology, and in each term assisted Miss Blackwood and Mr. Bradford in practical courses for Diploma and Certificate students. She took twelve students for tutorials to prepare them for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography.

1956-7 Miss Blackwood lectured twice weekly in all three terms, and gave a long practical class once weekly for students of the Diploma in Anthropology, and two shorter practical classes each week to students working for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography, in the former being assisted by Mr. Bradford and Dr. Butt, and in the latter by Dr. Butt. In Michaelmas and Hilary Terms her general title was Lands and Peoples, the first term being devoted to Hunters and Herders, and the second to Cultivators. These lectures were given both to Diploma and to Geography students. During Trinity Term she gave The Higher Civilizations of Pre-Conquest America, these weekly lectures being attended by Diploma students and some from other Faculties. She also gave three lectures followed by museum demonstrations on Some African Arts and Industries for Overseas Cadets going to Africa, and three lectures and demonstrations on Ethnology of the Western Pacific to Cadets bound for that area. ... Mr. Bradford's field work in Italy has already been described. He lectured once weekly in all three terms, his Michaelmas lectures being on The First Farmers in Europe, a Survey of Neolithic Economy and Society, the Hilary lectures on Asian Nomads, with special reference to Scyths, Huns, and Mongols, and the Trinity lectures on Tribal Life in Britain in the First Millennium B.C. He also assisted in practical instruction to Diploma pupils in all three terms, tutored 26 Geography pupils in Ethnology, and served as an examiner for the Preliminary in the Honour School of Geography and for the Diploma in Anthropology. ... In the Michaelmas Term Dr. A. J. Butt gave a weekly lecture and practical course on The Material Culture of the Prescribed Area, East Africa, and in Hilary Term gave a weekly lecture with some practical instruction on Amerindian Tribes of the Guianas in South America, as well as assisting Miss Blackwood in the practical courses for Diploma and for Geography students. ... Such activities as the Curator has mentioned have been over and above the task of looking out, setting up, and putting away material for lectures and practical work, a business that takes the best part of three full days a week during term.

1957-8 ... we are named the Department of Ethnology and Prehistory, with the right to have Demonstrators, who are also Lectures, appointed in both subjects. At the same time, Mr. Bradford’s title was changed in accordance with the nature of his publications and teaching to that of University Demonstrator and Lecturer in Prehistory. ... During the year we gave lectures and instruction to 8 candidates for the Diploma in Anthropology, 44 Colonial Probationers, and 67 candidates for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography, besides giving help to many research students from all parts of the world.
The Curator lectured in all three parts on Origins of Civilization, and examined for the Diploma in Anthropology and for the B.Litt. degree. He continued to serve on the Board of the Faculty of Anthropology and Geography, the Committee of Management of the Griffith Institute, the Committee of the Fine Arts, the Joint Advisory Science Committee of Council, and continued as Diploma Secretary for Anthropology, Interviewer of Research Students, and Secretary to Heads of Science Departments.
Miss Blackwood lectured twice weekly in all three terms, and gave a long practical class once weekly for students of the Diploma in Anthropology, and two shorter practical classes each week to students for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography, in the former being assisted by Mr. Bradford and Dr. Butt, and in the latter by Dr. Butt. Her general title for Michaelmas and Hilary Terms was Lands and Peoples, the first term being given to Hunters and Herders, and the second to Cultivators. These lectures were given both to Diploma and to Geography students. For Diploma and research students she gave a once weekly course in Trinity Term on The Higher Civilizations of Pre-Conquest America, a course of lectures and demonstrations on Some African Arts and Industries for Overseas Cadets going to Africa, and a course of lectures and demonstrations on Ethnology of the Western Pacific for cadets going to the Fiji Islands and to the British Solomons. ... Mr. Bradford lectured once weekly in all three terms, his Michaelmas lectures being on The First Farmers in Europe, a Survey of Neolithic Economy and Society, the Hilary lectures on Asian Nomads, with special reference to Scyths, Huns and Mongols, and the Trinity lectures on Tribal Life in Britain in the First Millenium B.C. He assisted in practical instruction to Diploma pupils in all three terms, tutored 26 Geography pupils in ethnology, and served as an examiner for the Preliminary in the Honour School of Geography. ... Dr. Butt lectured once weekly throughout the year. In Michaelmas Term her subject was The Material Culture of the Special Area, East Africa, and in Hilary and Trinity Amerindian Tribes of the Guianas. She also assisted Miss Blackwood in the Diploma and Geography practical courses each week, and supplemented her course by some extra lectures on South American subjects, illustrated by film, as well as giving tutorials to 16 students for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography, and examining for the Preliminary in Trinity Term 1958.

1958-9 Miss Blackwood's friends all over the world will be happy to know that her approaching retirement after an extended term of office will not mean the end of her connexion with the Museum. ... For some time past we have been considering how her background lectures on Lands and Peoples could be continued, as few people remain with so much first-hand knowledge of the peoples of the world. We were fortunate in 1955 to bring Dr. Audrey Butt here as demonstrator from Spain where she was then working, as she had considerable knowledge of peoples in America and Africa, and we are again fortunate in bringing Mr. K.O.L. Burridge here from Baghdad as demonstrator for October 1959, as he has considerable knowledge of peoples in Oceania and in Southern Asia. Both are our former students who have done a good deal of field-work and published their results, and both have experience of teaching. Accordingly, we have been able to divide the background course on Lands and Peoples between them, Mr. Burridge giving the Wednesday, and Dr. Butt the Saturday lectures in this course, and taking the Practical Classes between them. This leaves each of them with one term free for more intensive lectures illustrating their personal field-work and research. ... During the year we gave lectures and instruction to 13 candidates for the Diploma in Anthropology, 14 Colonial Probationers, and 69 candidates for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography, besides giving help to many research students form the University and all parts of the world. The curator lectured in all three terms on Origins of Civilization, examined for the Diploma in Anthropology, and supervised students for the B.Litt. degree. ... Miss Blackwood lectured twice each week in all three terms, and gave a long practical class once weekly for students of the Diploma in Anthropology, and two shorter practical classes each week to students for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography, being assisted by Dr. Butt in the first term, and by Dr. Butt and Mr. Burridge in the remaining two terms of practicals. The general title for Michaelmas and Hilary Terms was Lands and Peoples, the first term being on Hunters and Herders, and the second on Cultivators, the lectures being given both to Diploma and Geography students. For Diploma and Research students she gave a once-weekly course in Trinity Term on The Higher Civilizations of Pre-Conquest America, a course of lectures followed by demonstrations on Some African Arts and Industries for Overseas Cadets going to Africa, and a course of lectures and demonstrations on Ethnology of the Western Pacific for a Cadet going to the Fiji Islands. ... Mr. Bradford was on sabbatical leave during Michaelmas and Trinity Terms to work on the Report on his work in Apulia. He gave a once-weekly lecture on Nomad Empires of Asia in Hilary Term, and assisted in Tutorial work for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography. ... Dr. Butt gave a lecture course with practical work on the prescribed area, East Africa, once weekly to Diploma students in Michaelmas Term, and in Hilary and Trinity Terms gave a once a week lecture course on Amerindian Tribes of the Guianas (South America). She also assisted Miss Blackwood in the Diploma and Geography practical courses each week, and supplemented her course by giving some extra lectures on South America, as well as giving tutorials to 14 students for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography, and examining for the Preliminary, for which there were 67 entrants in Ethnology, in March 1959.

1959-60 Last year’s report envisaged the division of Miss Blackwood’s basic background lectures and demonstrations of Lands and Peoples, a necessity made imminent by her retirement. The experiment is now a year old, and has been most successful, Dr. Audrey Butt dealing with peoples from the Americas and Africa, and Mr. K.O.L. Burridge with peoples in Asia and in Oceania. Both are former students, and have done a good deal of fieldwork or research in parts of their respective areas and have published, and have experience in teaching. The course was given on two days in each week throughout Michaelmas and Hilary Terms, and was supplemented by a practical course on Monday afternoons, taken alternately by the two lecturers. The Curator has always set great store by this course which gives an idea of what peoples there are, how and where they live, what they are like, and what they make and do, as a necessary background to all the special studies of subjects and problems of the whole course of anthropological studies. Moreover, for the English members of the course, it presents the idea that there are many people in the world who are not English, but are really very interesting in what they think and do, and see for themselves, and to collect and write about material. As for Diploma members of the course, who are yearly becoming more like an ideal assembly of the United Nations, they gain new respect for and interest in the thought, problems, and inventions of each other, and perhaps substitute some knowledge for a lot of prejudice. ... Mr. Bradford’s prolonged absence made it necessary for the Curator to undertake a good deal of extra archaeological teaching, and to ask his colleagues, notably Professor Hawkes and Mr. Baden-Powell, to add considerably to their own work. While this cannot continue indefinitely without seriously interfering with our own duties, it was opportune at a time when we are about to revise the Diploma syllabus, as it gave the Curator a chance to work more closely with his archaeological colleagues in the University, and better to judge what portions of the syllabus must be retained, and what can now be discarded or revised, as well as new material which should be included. ... During the year we gave lectures and other instruction to 16 candidates for the Diploma in Anthropology, 26 Colonial Probationers, and 58 candidates for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography, besides giving help to many research students from the University and all parts of the world. The Curator lectured in all three terms on Origins of Civilization, and because of Mr. Bradford’s absence, gave a practical course and informal tuition weekly through the year, examined for the B.Litt and D.Phil degrees. ... Dr. Butt lectured on Lands and Peoples throughout the Michaelmas and Hilary Terms to students for the Diploma in Anthropology and to students for the Preliminary in the Honour School of Geography, taking the Americas in the first term and Africa in the second, and gave practical classes on these areas on alternate Mondays. She also gave six lectures on the Prescribed Area (East Africa) to Diploma students, also with practical classes. In Trinity Term she gave three lectures with practical classes to Colonial Cadets on The Material Culture of East and West Africa, and six lectures, two illustrated with her own tape recordings, to Diploma students, on Some Aspects of Amerindian Society in the Guianas. She also gave tutorials to undergraduates reading for the Preliminary in the Honour School of Geography, and examined for the B.Litt degree. ... Mr Burridge lectured in Michaelmas and Hilary Term on Lands and Peoples, dealing with Oceania in the first term and with some Asiatic peoples in the second, and gave practical classes in all three terms. His subject in Trinity Term was Millenarial Movements, and in the same term he gave a short course to Colonial Cadets on Oceania, and S.E. Asia. He was an Examiner for the Preliminary in the Honour School of Geography, and undertook tutorials in all three terms.

1960-1 Mr. Dennis Britton, of Pembroke College, Cambridge, and of Queen’s College, Oxford, joined our staff in April of this year in succession to Mr. J.S.P. Bradford. ... Thus we now are up to full strength in Archaeology, as well as in Ethnology, where Dr. Butt and Dr. Burridge divide the field of work.

1961-2 During the past year we gave lectures and other instruction in Ethnology or Prehistory to 60 candidates for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography, 16 Colonial Probationers, and 23 candidates for the Diploma in Anthropology, besides the supervision of students for research degrees and giving help to many research students from various parts of the world. . As usual, a vast deal of time was spent by the staff in looking out, arranging, and re-storing material for practical classes in the public galleries, which have to be closed for the purpose. A most urgent need, coming ahead of more exhibition space, is a room in which about 70 students can be accommodated at once, with permanent regional arrangements round the walls, so that students can really study material instead of having one short look at what is unfamiliar, and gaining no clear impression. Moreover, research students have to occupy the library, our private rooms, or public galleries, which is awkward for us, and make uninterrupted work impossible for them. Space for teaching and research, and laboratory and studio space for ourselves and our students, are the first need for us, so that we can do different kinds of work without such regular disruption.
The Curator lectured in all three terms on Origins of Civilization, supervised candidates for the B. Litt. and D.Phil. degrees ...

1962-3 Curator: T.K.Penniman, M.A., Trinity College. University Demonstrators and Lecturers in Ethnology: A.J.Butt, B.Litt., M.A., D.Phil., Lady Margaret Hall; K.O.L. Burridge, M.A., Exeter College. Lecturer in Prehistoric Archaeology (also Senior Research Worker in the Department of Geology): D.F.W. Baden-Powell, M.A., Oriel College. University Demonstrator and Lecturer in Prehistory: Dennis Britton, M.A., Queens College. ... During the past year we gave lectures and other instruction to 27 students for the Diploma in Anthropology, 64 students in the Honour School of Geography, and 8 Colonial probationers, besides the supervision of students for research degrees and giving help to many research students from various parts of the world. As in previous years, a very large part of the time of the staff was taken in collecting, arranging, and restoring material for practical classes, now so large that we cannot use the public galleries as before, but need to use a large room kindly lent by Professor Wagner in the Department of Geology. An urgent need is a large room in which about 70 students can be accommodated at once, with permanent regional arrangements round the walls, so that students can come in and really study material used in things and gaining no clear impression. Research students need to use the library, our private rooms, or public galleries for prolonged study of material specially collected, which is difficult for us, and makes uninterrupted work impossible for them. We are also much hampered by lack of a sound-proof room where instruments can be played and recording and editing can go on without disturbing staff and students who need quiet, or have to leave off work unless we make furtive arrangements at outrageous times.
The Curator lectured for a part of the year on Origins of Civilization, supervised candidates for the B.Litt., and D.Phil. Degrees ...

1963-4 Experience with the new form of Diploma in Anthropology, inaugurated as recently as 1961-2, had convinced the academic staff of the Sub-Faculty of Anthropology that further revision was necessary. The Department of Ethnology and Prehistory, while maintaining a strong preference for revision within the framework of a single diploma by the provision of optional papers, accepted the views of those responsible for the majority of students and finally agreed an application for the creation of four separate diplomas. This was justified on the plea that the subject had grown to such an extent that it was unrealistic to expect diploma students to read to examination standard in any but their subject of specialization in one academic year which is, effectively, eight months. Students would at the same time be encouraged to attend lectures and read in what are essentially the other branches of the same field of study. The present solution presupposes the hope that conditions for study will change, perhaps with the establishment of an Honours School, and make a closer recombination of activities possible.
The titles of the new diplomas and names of the diploma secretaries are as follows:
Human Biology: Mr. J.J.T. Owen.
Prehistoric Archaeology: Mr. D. Britton.
Ethnology: Mr. K.O.L. Burridge.
Social Anthropology: Dr. R. Needham.
The Curator gave a course of lectures on African Arts and Industries to the students of the Overseas Services Course in the Trinity Term. ... Dr. A.J. Butt gave her course of lectures on Lands and Peoples (America and Africa) in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms and gave practical classes, seminars, and tutorials throughout the year. An innovation was instruction in field research techniques for the benefit of intending anthropological fieldworkers. ... Mr. K.O.L. Burridge gave his course of lectures on Lands and Peoples in the Michaelmas and Hilary Terms and on Ethnological Models in the Trinity Term. He gave practical classes throughout the year and tutorials to students for the Geography preliminary examination and to diploma candidates. ... Mr. Baden-Powell gave his course of lectures on the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods, together with practical classes for the handling of stone implements and for comparison of the arts and techniques of prehistoric times with those of the Eskimo and other recent cultures. An elementary class with tutorials on the identification of teeth and bones was also included. A joint arrangement with Mr. Britton enabled the students to see allied work in other departments in Oxford, including the Department of Geology, the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, and the Ashmolean Museum. Time was also found for a joint visit to Avebury and neighbouring monuments, and to Devizes Museum. ... Mr. D. Britton lectured on the first village communities in the Old World in Michaelmas Term, the later Neolithic and Early Bronze Age in Europe in the Hilary Term, and The Origins of Civilization in the Near East in the Trinity Term, and gave tutorials throughout the year. During Michaelmas and Hilary Terms he held practical classes covering the Neolithic and Bronze Ages and in the Trinity Term on material culture relating to the origins of civilization, some in the Pitt Rivers Museum and some in the Ashmolean Museum. Practical work included visits to laboratories to see the application of the natural sciences to archaeological problems.